The usual complaint about retractable leads is the jolt. A dog hits the end of the line at speed and the shock travels through their neck and into your wrist. A bungee section built into this one absorbs most of that. The cord still extends to five metres for sniffing room, but the stop becomes a stretch rather than a snap, which is kinder to a dog's neck and to your shoulder.

The cord winds back in under spring tension as your dog comes towards you, so there is never a loop of slack dragging along the pavement, and the handle is shaped for one hand, leaving the other free for keys, a poo bag or a coffee. Five metres is a lot of line, and the useful skill is shortening it early: lock or reel in before you reach a road, a gate or another dog, rather than afterwards.

• Extends to 5m
• Elastic bungee section softens the stop
• Cord reels back in smoothly under spring tension
• One-handed handle for everyday walking control
• Available in black, grey, blue and pink

Retractable leads are not right for every situation. Use a fixed lead near traffic, in crowds, and anywhere your dog needs to be at your side, because five metres of cord gives a dog time to reach a road before you can react. Thin cord can also burn if it runs across bare skin, so keep your hands off the line itself and use the handle.

Who it's for: Owners walking a reliable dog on open ground who want them to have room to sniff without giving up the ability to bring them straight back.